Einstein's Theory of Relativity may have implications on the concept of choice. Namely, that there is none. Do we choose what movie to see tonight? No. (It's already been chosen, some say.) Do we choose to wiggle our finger? No. (Already wiggled.) This hour features conversations with scientists and an entire cast of characters who are all waging battle against time — or at least the common sense view of time. We visit a particle accelerator where scientists recreate the moment just after the beginning of time...and also a Dublin artist whose life is a 19th century time-experiment. We end in the Mojave Desert, where geologic time flows like a frozen hourglass.

FROM THIS EPISODE

Einstein's Theory of Relativity may have implications on the concept of choice. Namely, that there is none. Do we choose what movie to see tonight? No. (It's already been chosen, some say.) Do we choose to wiggle our finger? No. (Already wiggled.) This hour features conversations with scientists and an entire cast of characters who are all waging battle against time — or at least the common sense view of time. We visit a particle accelerator where scientists recreate the moment just after the beginning of time...and also a Dublin artist whose life is a 19th century time-experiment. We end in the Mojave Desert, where geologic time flows like a frozen hourglass.